Parent seeks advice after nephew's Down syndrome comments to son

2 articles · Updated · Slate · May 10

In Slate's Care and Feeding column, the parent said eight-year-old Caleb told seven-year-old Brandon he could “catch” mild Down syndrome from friend Isaac and used the R-word.
The boy's mother, Opal, reportedly laughed off the remark, while the parent considered excluding Caleb from Brandon's end-of-May eighth birthday party despite her husband's warning of family conflict.
The advice urged against using the party as punishment, recommending the parent directly explain that Down syndrome is genetic, not contagious, and that slurs about disability are cruel and unacceptable.

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